CBLEsim

October 2023 Customs Broker Exam

The October 2023 customs broker license exam (CBLE) was an open-book sitting of 80 multiple-choice questions in 4.5 hours, with 60 correct needed to pass. 75 questions from this sitting are in the simulator, each with the official citation from CBP's answer key and a plain-English explanation.

What this sitting was like

Citations on this sitting clustered in 19 CFR Part 111, Part 141 and Part 113, per CBP's own answer key.

Five questions from this exam

Q27. Who has the duty to exercise responsible supervision and control of an employee of a licensed Customs broker (broker) granted authority to sign documents and transact customs business by the broker?

  1. ACBP
  2. BThe employee
  3. CThe broker
  4. DThe Center director
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: C  · Authority: 19 CFR 111.2

The correct answer is C) The broker. According to 19 CFR 111.2(b)(2)(B), the broker must exercise sufficient supervision of the employee to ensure proper conduct in customs business and is strictly responsible for the employee’s actions within the scope of employment. This duty is explicitly assigned to the broker, not CBP, the employee, or the Center director. The regulation emphasizes the broker’s accountability for the employee’s conduct, even when the employee is authorized to act on the broker’s behalf.

Q4. The Danube Trading Company (Danube Trading) arranges for the importation of monosodium glutamate (“MSG”) for customers in the U.S., including the Saucy Seasonings Corporation (Saucy Seasonings). Danube Trading is not the seller or buyer of the MSG and does not qualify as importer of record. On an entry of MSG, Danube Trading’s customs broker mistakenly listed Danube Trading as the ultimate consignee (as well the importer of record) on the entry summary instead of Saucy Seasonings, the actual owner. If Danube Trading wants to be relieved from statutory liability for the payment of increased and additional duties on the entry, it must declare at the time of the filing of the entry summary or entry documentation that it is not the actual owner of the merchandise, furnish CBP with the name and address of Saucy Seasonings, and file with CBP, either at the port of entry or electronically within ninety (90) days from the time of entry, a declaration of Saucy Seasonings acknowledging that the actual owner will pay all additional and increased duties. What is the correct form for the Saucy Seasonings declaration that Danube Trading must file with CBP?

  1. ACBP Form 3173
  2. BCBP Form 3347
  3. CCBP Form 3461
  4. DCBP Form 3495
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B  · Authority: 19 CFR 141.20

The correct answer is B) CBP Form 3347, as 19 CFR 141.20(a)(1) explicitly states that the declaration of the actual owner must be filed on Customs Form 3347. The other options (Forms 3173, 3461, and 3495) are not referenced in the cited authority and thus cannot be correct. The regulation directly ties the required declaration to Form 3347, making it the only valid choice.

Q15. Which regulation states that all powers of attorney may be granted for unlimited duration except for a partnership power of attorney, which may not exceed two (2) years from date of execution?

  1. A19 CFR 113.40
  2. B19 CFR 141.34
  3. C19 CFR 141.39
  4. D19 CFR 141.46
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B  · Authority: 19 CFR 141.34

The correct answer is B) 19 CFR 141.34, as the cited text explicitly states that partnership powers of attorney are limited to two years, while all others may be unlimited. Options A, C, and D do not address this specific regulation. 19 CFR 113.40 pertains to customs procedures unrelated to POA duration, and 19 CFR 141.39 and 141.46 cover different aspects of customs documentation and compliance, not the duration of powers of attorney.

Q80. What is the commercial invoice lacking to be compliant with the Customs regulations?

  1. AAn attached accurate English translation
  2. BQuantity in the weights and measures of the country of shipment
  3. CThe time, place, and to whom the merchandise was sold
  4. DThe kind of currency, whether gold, silver, or paper
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A  · Authority: 19 CFR 141.86

The correct answer is A because 19 CFR 141.86(d) explicitly requires that the invoice and all attachments be in English or include an accurate English translation. Without this, the invoice cannot be examined for duty determination. Option B is not required unless weights and measures are necessary to ascertain duties, as stated in 19 CFR 141.86(f), but this is not a universal requirement. Option C is mandated by 19 CFR 141.86(a)(2), which requires details about the sale, but the question focuses on the missing translation. Option D is addressed in 19 CFR 141.86(a)(3), which requires stating the currency type, but this is not the missing element in the scenario.

Q50. What is the correct rate and duty designation under the following facts? CBP identified an importer’s shipment of ‘widgets’ with a country of origin of China that falls within the scope of antidumping and countervailing case A-570-998 and C-570-999 respectively. The entry was originally filed as a type 01 entry, and not on Immediate Delivery procedures. On September 10, 2023 CBP rejected the entry summary back to filer’s control to resubmit as a type 03 and make payment for duties owed. The shipment’s import date is March 25, 2023, the entry date is March 27, 2023 and the entry summary date is April 3, 2023. After broker review of the manufacturer and exporter in the shipment, it was determined the correct cases applicable to the parties are A-570-998-000 and C570-999-001. The following rates/dates are identified in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Anti-dumping / Countervailing Duty (ADCVD) Case Information database: A-570-998-000 • Effective Date: 03/26/2022-35% • Effective Date: 03/26/2023-20% • Effective Date: 09/01/2023-10% C-570-999-001 • Effective Date: 01/01/2023-10% • Effective Date: 03/01/2023-0% • Effective Date: 04/01/2023-5%

  1. ARate of 10% for ADD, and 5% for CVD.
  2. BRate of 20% for ADD, and CVD case not needed since 0%.
  3. CRate of 35% for ADD, 0% for CVD.
  4. DRate of 20% for ADD, and 0% for CVD.
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: D  · Authority: ACE BRPD Chapter 8

The correct answer is D because the applicable antidumping (ADD) rate is determined by the effective date closest to the entry summary date (April 3, 2023). For A-570-998-000, the 20% rate applies as it is effective from March 26, 2023, and the next lower rate (10%) is not yet in effect. For C-570-999-001, the 0% rate is effective from March 1, 2023, and remains applicable until April 1, 2023, which is after the entry summary date. Thus, the 0% CVD rate applies. Option A incorrectly uses the 10% ADD rate, which is not in effect yet. Option B incorrectly assumes the CVD rate is 0% but ignores the need to apply the correct ADD rate. Option C uses the outdated 35% ADD rate.

That is 5 of 75. Sit the full October 2023 exam →

Answers and citations are from CBP's published answer key. CBP does not modify answer keys after appeal decisions, so where an appeal later overturned an answer, the key still shows the original.

What this exam was written against

The reference editions in force for this sitting. Editions matter: a question written against an older HTSUS or CFR can test a rule that has since changed.

Sit this exam

75 questions from this sitting are in the simulator, in their original exam order, on a 4 hour 13 minute clock. Same order the candidates saw them in, same pace.

5 questions are left out: 4 depended on exhibits CBP never published or were credited to every candidate, and 1 tested law that has since changed. The directions screen notes this before you start, so nothing is a surprise mid exam.

Sit the October 2023 exam

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CBP's official answer keys for recent exams are on CBP's past-exams page (the five most recent sittings only). Last verified against cbp.gov: August 2, 2026.